Cutting apparatus and method

ABSTRACT

A plurality of bushings are coupled to one another via a series of bolts to provide an interlocking, articulating cutter. The bolts have a cylindrical end and a convex end. The convex ends are seated inside a concave socket coupled to the bushings. The cylindrical ends are coupled to a convex nut seated inside another concave socket coupled to an adjacent bushing. The convex ends of the bolts are configured to articulate inside the seat of the concave sockets. A washer may be placed between the bushings to provide a desired amount of flexibility and/or rigidity. The outer surface of the bushing comprises a cutting structure, such as a milled or clad cutting structure.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to cutters and, moreparticularly, to a cutter comprising interlocking, articulating cuttingbushings adapted to actuate in a back and forth saw-like motion to cut adesired structure.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In conventional marine salvage operations, given the size of somestructures, it is sometimes necessary to remove the structure in apiecemeal fashion. Thus, various cutting methods have been employed. Onesuch method involves the use of a wire having a plurality of loosebushings slidable along the wire. The wire is actuated in a back andforth saw-like motion to cut the desired structure. Another methodinvolves the use of a chain which is actuated back and forth to cut thestructure.

These methods have a variety of disadvantages. In the first method, thebushings are not attached to one another. Therefore, in instances whenthe wire breaks during operations, bushings simply slide off the wireinto the surrounding water. As a result, costly retrieval operationsmust be conducted, or bushings have to be replaced. In methods employingthe chain, cutting operations are extremely violent since the chainreally does not cut the structure, but rather “tears” it, resulting in avery jagged “cut” and a dangerous working environment. In addition,since adjacent links in the chain are oriented along planes which areperpendicular to one another, every other link bears the majority of thecutting stresses, resulting in a less efficient cutting operation withgreater safety risk to personnel and equipment.

Accordingly, there is a need in the art for a cutter havinginterlocking, articulating bushings, therefore providing a means toachieve a safer, efficient, and cost-effective marine salvage operation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides apparatuses and methods for a cuttingapparatus comprising interlocking, articulating cutting bushings. Aplurality of bushings is coupled to one another via a series of bolts.The bolts have a cylindrical end and a convex end. The convex ends areseated inside a concave socket coupled to the interior bore of thebushings. The cylindrical ends are threaded to a convex nut which seatsinside another concave socket coupled to the bore of an adjacentbushing. The convex ends of the bolts are configured to articulateinside the seat of the concave sockets, thereby allowing the bushings toarticulate in relation to one another. A hardened or flexible washer maybe placed between the bushings to provide a desired amount offlexibility and/or rigidity. The outer surface of the bushing comprisesa cutting structure, such as a milled or clad cutting structure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a sectional view of a cutter according to an exemplaryembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 1B is an alternate view of the cutter illustrated in FIG. 1A;

FIG. 2 illustrates a clad bushing of a cutter according to an exemplaryembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3A is an expanded view of a cutter according to an exemplaryembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3B is an alternate view of the cutter illustrated in FIG. 3A;

FIG. 4A illustrates the vertical operation of the cutter according to anexemplary embodiment of the present invention; and 4B the horizontaloperation of the cutter according to an exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 5A illustrates an isometric view of a cutter according to anembodiment of the current invention; FIG. 5B shows a cutter with aflexible washer; FIG. 5C depicts a cutter with a rigid washer; FIG. 5Dillustrates a cutter without any washers. FIG. 5E depicts a cutter witha mixture of rigid and flexible washers; and FIG. 5F illustrates acutter with a mixture of flexible, rigid and no washers.

DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

Illustrative embodiments and methodologies of the present invention aredescribed below as they might be employed in a cutter or methodemploying the cutter. In the interest of clarity, not all features of anactual implementation are described in this specification. It will ofcourse be appreciated that in the development of any such actualembodiment, numerous implementation-specific decisions must be made toachieve the developers' specific goals, such as compliance withsystem-related and business-related constraints, which will vary fromone implementation to another. Moreover, it will be appreciated thatsuch a development effort might be complex and time-consuming, but wouldnevertheless be a routine undertaking for those of ordinary skill in theart having the benefit of this disclosure. Further aspects andadvantages of the various embodiments and methodologies of the inventionwill become apparent from consideration of the following description anddrawings.

FIG. 1A illustrates a cutter according to an exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention. Cutter 10 includes a plurality of bushings 12 havingmilled cutting surfaces along the outer diameter. In this exemplaryembodiment, bushings 12 are approximately 60 mm long by 80 mm indiameter, however, those ordinarily skilled in the art having thebenefit of this disclosure realize the dimensions of bushings 12 may bevaried. Threads 14 are present along inner bore 16 of bushings 12 ateach end of bushings 12. An interior concave socket 18 having a threadedouter diameter is threadingly coupled to threads 14 of bushings 12.

A convex shouldered bolt 20 is positioned inside interior concave socket18. At one end of convex shouldered bolt 20 is a cylindrical end 22,while the other end comprises the convex end 24. Convex end 24 seatsinside concave interior socket 18 such that convex shouldered bolt 20 isallowed to articulate a certain degree, as will be discussed later. End22 of convex shouldered bolt 20 comprises threads 30 along its outerdiameter. A convex nut 32 is threadingly coupled to convex shoulder bolt20 via threads 30. Convex nut 32 seats inside concave interior socket 18of the adjacent bushing 12. Accordingly, any number of bushings 12 maybe coupled to each other in such manner.

Further referring to the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 1A, oncepositioned inside bore 16 of bushing 12, the outer end of concaveinterior socket 18 rests substantially flush with the end of bushing 12.A washer 26 is positioned around convex shouldered bolt 20 betweenadjacent bushings 12 in order to provide rigidity to cutter 10. Washer26 may be made of metallic or non-metallic material, such as, forexample, rubber, neoprene, or polyethylene. In this exemplaryembodiment, washer 26 is approximately 8 mm thick by 40 mm in diameter.Depending on the width of washer 26, the outer ends of concave interiorsockets 18 of adjacent bushings 12 either rest against or are adjacentto the ends of washer 26 when cutter 10 is in a substantially straightposition.

In embodiments utilizing a hardened washer 26, cutter 10 will be morerigid and, thus, will flex less, or not at all, during cutting. However,in embodiments utilizing a flexible washer 26, cutter 10 will beflexible and have more ability to articulate. Those ordinarily skilledin the art having the benefit of this disclosure realize the materialused in washer 26 and/or the size of washer 26 may be varied toaccomplish a variety of angles of curvature or rigidity within cutter10. Moreover, in order to provide maximum flexibility, an alternateexemplary embodiment of the present invention omits washer 26altogether. In addition, cutter 10 may comprise a combination ofhardened, flexible, and omitted washers in order to achieve the desiredcutter characteristics.

The exemplary cutter 10 of FIG. 1A comprises a milled outer surfacecomposed of teeth 28 which are circumferentially placed around the outersurface of bushing 12. The respective teeth 28 of adjacent bushings 12are oriented in opposing directions of each other. As illustrated inFIG. 1, the cutting surfaces of teeth 28 along the left bushing 12 areall oriented toward the left, while teeth 28 along adjacent rightbushing 12 are oriented in the right direction. As such, cutter 10 cutsin both directions as it is actuated. FIG. 1B is an alternative view ofFIG. 1A. In the alternative exemplary embodiment of FIG. 2, bushing 12may comprise a variety of clad cutting surfaces, such as tungstencarbide, polycrystalline diamond compact, diamond, or other cuttingsurfaces, or some combination of cutting surfaces. In yet anotherexemplary alternate embodiment, teeth 28 of a single bushing may beoriented in opposing directions as well.

Assembly of cutter 10 will now be described in relation to an exemplaryembodiment of the present invention. When assembling cutter 10, convexinterior socket 18 is threadingly coupled to threads 14 of a firstbushing 12. Concave interior socket 18 comprises pin holes 34 in itsouter surface. A pin wrench, as known in the art, is utilized to screwconcave interior socket 18 into threads 14. Thereafter, convexshouldered bolt 20 is seated inside concave interior socket 18. A washer26, if desired, followed by a second concave interior socket 18 are slidover end 22 of shouldered bolt 20. Convex nut 32 is then threaded ontoend 22 via thread 30 and then inserted into the second bushing. Thesecond concave interior socket 18 is then coupled to the second bushing12 into threads 14.

Now two bushings 12 have been coupled to each other, and each bushinghas an open end ready to receive further sockets 18 and bolts 20. Thus,a second convex shouldered bolt 20 is seated in a concave interiorsocket 18 and, then, threaded (via pin holes 34 and pin wrench) into oneof the open ends of the first or second bushings 12. Any number ofbushings may be added to cutter 10 in like manner. Disassembly of cutter10 would be achieved in a reverse manner, as would be apparent to oneordinarily skilled in the art having the benefit of this disclosure.Although not shown, end 24 of convex shouldered bolt 20, as well as theinner end of convex nut 32, also comprise pin holes 34 which areutilized with the pin wrench in assembly/disassembly.

FIGS. 3A & 3B illustrate expanded views of cutter 10 according to anexemplary embodiment of the present invention. Here, cutter 10 comprisesthe same components previously described in relation to FIGS. 1A & 1B.Moreover, any number of bushings 12 may comprise cutter 10, as desired.At each end of cutter 10, the outermost bushings 12 comprise convexshouldered bolt 20 having cylindrical end 22 and convex end 24. In thisexemplary embodiment, however, unlike the other convex shouldered bolts20, cylindrical end 22 of the outermost convex shouldered bolt 20 isthreadingly coupled to a threaded pad eye receiver 36 and a shackle orclevis 38. An exemplary shackle is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,654,594,entitled “SHACKLE,” issued Feb. 2, 2010, owned by the Assignee of thepresent invention, Bisso Marine Co., Inc. of Houston, Tex., which ishereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. An actuator 40 iscoupled to shackle 38. Actuator 40 may be a hydraulic unit operated by aprogrammable power unit, such as a constant tension winch or hydraulicram, or any other means known in the art.

Referring to FIGS. 3A, 3B, 4A, and 4B, operation of the cutter will nowbe described in relation to a salvage operation to remove submersedshipwreck 42. FIG. 4A illustrates vertical operation of the cutter,while FIG. 4B illustrates horizontal operation of the cutter. A liftboathaving an actuator 40 is coupled to cutter 10 via shackle 38 and tether44, or any other means known in the art. Cutter 10 has been deployedunderneath shipwreck 42, as illustrated in FIG. 4, and will accomplishthe cutting in the upward direction. In the alternative, cutter 10 maybe placed atop a desired structure, such as when the structure isfloating atop the water surface or located on land, and cutting isaccomplished downwardly. Those ordinarily skilled in the art having thebenefit of this disclosure realized a variety of objects may be cut in avariety of directions utilizing the present invention. Accordingly, thecutter of the present invention is omnidirectional and may also beemployed below mudline or topside.

In yet another alternate embodiment, cutter 10 may be placed around adesired structure 54, and cutting will be achieved in a horizontaldirection, as illustrated in FIG. 4B. Referring to FIG. 4B, lines 44 areattached to a barge 50 on one end and a liftboat, as previouslydescribed, on the other end. An anchor or clump weight 48 is positionedunderwater and fitted with a sheave to make the system cut in ahorizontal direction, as illustrated.

Further referring to FIGS. 3A, 3B, 4A, and 4B, actuator 40 actuatescutter 10 in a back and forth saw-like motion to effect cutting ofshipwreck 42. During cutting, bushings 12 articulate in relation to oneanother, thus allowing cutter 10 to bend around the body of shipwreck42. As cutter 10 is actuated, it begins to cut into, and eventuallythrough, shipwreck 42. Those ordinarily skilled in the art having thebenefit of this disclosure realize the actuation speed and/or dimensionsor cutting surface of bushings 12 may be varied to effect varyingcutting efficiencies.

As shown in the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 3A, washers 26 arecomprised of a flexible material which compresses as bushings 12 bendtoward one another, thereby allowing bushings 12 to articulate up to anangle Φ in relation to each other. In this exemplary embodiment, Φ=12°,therefore illustrating a total cutter angle of 60°. However, thoseordinarily skilled in the art having the benefit of this disclosurerealize Φ may be larger or smaller dependent upon whether washer 26 isutilized and, if so, what material comprises washer 26. In addition, thedimensions of bushings 12, convex shouldered bolt 10, and concaveinterior socket 18 may be varied to effect varying ranges ofarticulation, as would also be understood by one of ordinary skill inthe art having the benefit of this disclosure.

Accordingly, an exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides acutting apparatus comprising a plurality of bushings, each bushinghaving a bore therethrough; a concave interior socket coupled to bothends of the bores of each of the plurality of bushings; and a boltjoining adjacent bushings, the bolt having a concave shouldered end anda cylindrical end, the concave shouldered end being seated inside theconcave interior socket while the cylindrical end of the bolt is coupledto a convex nut, the convex nut being seated inside the concave interiorsocket of the adjacent bushing, wherein the plurality of bushing areconfigured to articulate in relation to one another. In anotherembodiment, the cutting apparatus further comprising a washer placedbetween the plurality of bushings, the washer located around the boltjoining adjacent bushings. In yet another exemplary embodiment, at leastone of the washers is rigid and at least one of the washers is flexible.In another exemplary embodiment, the cutting apparatus comprises awasher placed between less than all of the plurality of bushings.

An exemplary cutter may further comprise pin holes located on an outersurface of the concave interior socket. In the alternative, teeth arelocated on an outer surface of the bushings. In yet another embodiment,the teeth of adjacent bushings are oriented in opposing directions. Theouter surface of the cutting apparatus may be comprised of tungstencarbide, diamond, or polycrystalline diamond compact cutting structure.In yet another exemplary embodiment, the cutting apparatus furthercomprises an outermost bushing on each end of the cutting apparatus,each outermost bushing comprising a convex shouldered bolt extendingoutwardly from the cutting apparatus, a cylindrical end of the convexshouldered bolt being coupled to a mechanism which actuates the cuttingapparatus in a back and forth saw-like motion.

Another exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides a cuttingapparatus comprising a plurality of bushings, each bushing having a boretherethrough; and a bolt joining adjacent bushings, the bolt extendinginto a portion of the bore of the adjacent bushings, wherein theplurality of bushing are configured to articulate in relation to oneanother. In another exemplary embodiment, the cutting apparatus furthercomprises a washer placed between the plurality of bushings or a washerplaced between less than all of the plurality of bushings. In yetanother embodiment, an outer surface of the plurality of bushingscomprises a milled or clad structure.

An exemplary methodology of the present invention provides a method forcutting a structure, the method comprising the steps of bringing acutting apparatus into contact with the structure, the cutting apparatuscomprising a plurality of bushings, each bushing having a boretherethrough, and a bolt joining adjacent bushings, the bolt extendinginto a portion of the bore of the adjacent bushings; actuating thecutting apparatus along the structure; and cutting the structure usingthe cutting apparatus. In another exemplary methodology, the step ofactuating the cutting apparatus comprises the step of articulating theplurality of bushings in relation to one another. In yet anothermethodology, the step of bringing the cutting apparatus into contactwith the structure further comprises the step of placing a washerbetween the plurality of bushings. In yet another exemplary methodology,at least one of the washers is flexible and at least one of the washersis rigid.

In another exemplary methodology, the step of bringing the cuttingapparatus into contact with the structure further comprises the step ofplacing a washer between less than all of the plurality of bushings. Inanother methodology, the step of bringing the apparatus into contactwith the structure comprises the step of providing teeth on an outersurface of the plurality of bushings, the teeth on adjacent bushingsbeing oriented in opposing directions, and the step of actuating thecutter further comprises the step of actuating the cutting apparatus ina back and forth saw-like motion, the cutting apparatus cutting thestructure in both the back and forth motion. In yet another exemplarymethodology, the step of bringing the cutting apparatus into contactwith the structure further comprises the step of providing a clad outersurface on the plurality of bushings.

Accordingly, various embodiments of the present invention provide acutter having interlocking, articulating bushings. In instances wherethe cutter breaks during operation, the bushings will not be lost in thesea or require costly retrieval operations since they are interlocked.Moreover, the cutter can be quickly reassembled using the pin holes ofthe present invention. Furthermore, unlike the conventional chaincutters, the present invention allows for precision cutting of astructure.

Although various embodiments have been shown and described, theinvention is not limited to such embodiments and will be understood toinclude all modifications and variations as would be apparent to oneskilled in the art. For example, although described only in relation tomarine salvage operations, the cutter of the present invention may beused to cut a variety of other structures and objects. Therefore, itshould be understood that the invention is not intended to be limited tothe particular forms disclosed. Rather, the intention is to cover allmodifications, equivalents and alternatives falling within the spiritand scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for cutting a subsea submergedstructure, the method comprising the steps of: (a) bringing a cuttingapparatus into contact with the submerged structure, the cuttingapparatus comprising: a plurality of bushings, a cutting structure on anouter surface of each bushing, each bushing having a bore therethrough,a concave interior socket coupled to each end of the bore; and a boltjoining adjacent bushings, the bolt having a convex shouldered end and acylindrical end, the convex shouldered end being seated inside theconcave interior socket while the cylindrical end of the bolt is coupledto a convex nut, the convex nut being seated inside the concave interiorsocket of the adjacent bushing, wherein the plurality of bushings areconfigured to articulate in relation to one another; (b) actuating thecutting apparatus along the submerged structure; and (c) cutting thestructure using the cutting apparatus.
 2. The method of claim 1, whereinstep (b) further comprises the step of actuating the cutting apparatusin a back and forth saw-like motion, the cutting apparatus cutting thestructure in both the back and forth motion.
 3. The method of claim 2,wherein step (c) comprises cutting the structure in a horizontalorientation.
 4. The method of claim 2, wherein step (c) comprisescutting the structure in a vertical orientation.
 5. The method of claim2, wherein step (c) comprises cutting the structure at an angle.
 6. Themethod of claim 2, wherein the cutting structure comprises a milled or aclad cutting structure.
 7. The method of claim 2, wherein the cuttingstructure comprises teeth, the teeth on adjacent bushings being orientedin opposing directions.
 8. The method of claim 3, wherein the subseasubmerged structure is a shipwreck.
 9. A method for cutting a subseasubmerged structure, the method comprising the steps of: (a) providing acutting apparatus, the cutting apparatus comprising: a plurality ofbushings, a cutting structure on an outer surface of each bushing, eachbushing having a bore therethrough, a concave interior socket coupled toeach end of the bore; and a bolt joining adjacent bushings, the bolthaving a convex shouldered end and a cylindrical end, the convexshouldered end being seated inside the concave interior socket while thecylindrical end of the bolt is coupled to a convex nut, the convex nutbeing seated inside the concave interior socket of the adjacent bushing,wherein the plurality of bushings are configured to articulate inrelation to one another; (b) tethering each of both ends of the cuttingapparatus to a floating structure; (c) bringing the cutting apparatusinto contact with the submerged structure, (d) actuating the cuttingapparatus along the submerged structure; and (e) cutting the structureusing the cutting apparatus.
 10. The method of claim 9, wherein thefloating structure is a barge, or a liftboat.
 11. The method of claim 9,wherein step (d) further comprises the step of actuating the cuttingapparatus in a back and forth saw-like motion, the cutting apparatuscutting the structure in both the back and forth motion.
 12. The methodof claim 9, wherein step (e) comprises cutting the structure in ahorizontal orientation.
 13. The method of claim 9, wherein step (e)comprises cutting the structure in a vertical orientation.
 14. Themethod of claim 9, wherein step comprises cutting the structure at anangle.
 15. The method of claim 9, wherein the cutting structurecomprises a milled or a clad cutting structure.
 16. The method of claim9, wherein the cutting structure comprises teeth, the teeth on adjacentbushings being oriented in opposing directions.
 17. The method of claim9, wherein the subsea submerged structure is a shipwreck.
 18. The methodof claim 9, wherein the cutting apparatus further comprises a washerplaced between less than the plurality of bushings, the washer locatedaround the bolt joining adjacent bushings.
 19. The method of claim 18,wherein the washers placed between less than all of the plurality ofbushings comprise a combination of rigid and flexible washers.